William Overton Gibson (5th USCT)

William Overton Gibson was born around 1837 in Albemarle County, Virginia. He moved to Ohio at the age of 17 as a free man with his mother, sisters, and brother. He married Amelia Francis Goins in Athens County, Ohio, around 1860, and they had two children before the war: Lucy A. Hill, born in 1857; and Ezella Tabler, born in 1859. 

Gibson enlisted as a private at the age of 27 on August 10, 1864, and mustered in the following day in Marietta, Ohio. His service record describes him as 5 feet, 10 inches tall, with black hair, black eyes, and a black complexion. He served in Company G of the 5th USCT Infantry Regiment. Gibson served during the Siege of Petersburg, including the Battle of the Crater on July 30, 1864. He sustained gunshot wounds to the right forearm and lung in February 1865 at the Battle of Sugar Loaf Ridge in North Carolina.  He spent time in the hospital following this wound. Gibson's regiment witnessed the surrender of Confederate General Joseph Johnston at Bennett Place on April 26, 1865. He later mustered out on August 22 in New Bern, North Carolina. 

Following the war, Gibson returned to Athens County, Ohio, to live with his family. He had one more child with his wife Amelia: Penn L. Gibson, born in 1871. Amelia died on September 2, 1889, due to injuries sustained in a railroad crash. He then married Eva Jane Norris Hill on August 6, 1894, in Wesley Township, Ohio. Together they had seven children—Mamie, born June 30, 1895; Oliver, born October 4, 1896; Noble, born March 22, 1898; Clyde, born September 16, 1899; Jane, born February 8, 1903; Edgar, born February 16, 1905; and Ason, born August 18, 1908; as well as 3 children who died in infancy. Gibson suffered after the war due to his gunshot wounds. By the time of his death, he succeeded in attaining a pension of $30 per month. Gibson died of rheumatism on July 2, 1911, in Sharpsburg, Ohio. Following his death, his wife Eva applied for a pension but did not receive one. His minor children Oliver, Noble, Jane, Edgar, and Ason, however, each began receiving a $12 monthly pension in 1911. 

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DATABASE CONTENT
Name:Gibson, William Overton
Alternative names:
Roles:
  • Soldier
Gender:M
Race:Black
Regiment/Ship:
RegimentCompany
5th Regiment Infantry U.S. Colored TroopsG
Branch of service:Army
Enlistment/Muster:
TypeDatePlaceAccepted/RejectedAgeStatusReason
Enlistment1864-08-10Marietta, OHaccepted27Free
Muster In1864-08-11Marietta, OH
Muster Out1865-08-22New Bern, NCMustered Out
Residence at enlistment:Athens County, OH
Rank In:Private
Rank Out:Private
Highest rank achieved:Private
Pensions:
Person 1Person 2NumberRelation Type
Gibson, William Overton97178.0application-invalid
Gibson, William Overton976633.0application-minor
Gibson, William Overtonnoneapplication-parent
Gibson, William Overtonnoneapplication-widow
Gibson, William Overton80005.0certificate-invalid
Gibson, William Overton745947.0certificate-minor
Birth date:1837
Birth date certainty:About
Birth place:Albemarle County, VA
Death date:1911-07-02
Death place:Sharpsburg, OH
Causes of death:disease: rheumatism
Occupations:Farmer
Relationships:
Person 1Relation TypePerson 2
Gibson, William Overtonparent ofHill, Lucy A.
Gibson, William Overtonparent ofTabler, Ezella
Gibson, William Overtonparent ofGibson, Penn L.
Gibson, William Overtonparent ofGibson, Mamie
Gibson, William Overtonparent ofGibson, Oliver
Gibson, William Overtonparent ofGibson, Noble
Gibson, William Overtonparent ofGibson, Clyde
Gibson, William Overtonparent ofGibson, Jane
Gibson, William Overtonparent ofGibson, Edgar
Gibson, William Overtonparent ofGibson, Ason
Gibson, Eva Janewife ofGibson, William Overton
Gibson, Amelia Franceswife ofGibson, William Overton
SOURCES

Compiled Service Records for William O. Gibson, RG94, National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), Washington, D.C.; Pension Records for William O. Gibson, RG15, NARA, Washington, D.C.; Frederick A. Dyer, A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, vol. 3 (Des Moines, IA: Dyer Publishing Company, 1908).